Failure to Update NYS Physician Profile May Result in Misconduct Charge

4 years ago

According to a recent article in MDNews, the Office of Professional Medical Conduct (OPMC), a branch of the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), has “undertaken a more aggressive approach to investigate and, in some cases, begin disciplinary action against physicians who have failed to update their New York State Physician Profile.”

Since 2000, Public Health Law (PHL) §2995-a has provided for the collection of certain information on licensed physicians to create individual physician profiles which are available to the public. The New York State Physician Profile website can be found at www.nydoctorprofile.com.

Recent revisions to PHL §2995-a(4) now require that in addition to reporting verdicts, settlements, or other specified occurrences, each physician must update his/her profile information within six months prior to the expiration date of the physician’s registration period. Updating one’s profile is required as a condition of registration renewal. As part of its professional misconduct investigations, OPMC now asks whether physicians have updated their profiles on the Physician Profile website. Failure to do so can result in a separate charge of professional misconduct pursuant to Education Law §6530.